George H.W. Bush, a class act

As I watch the nation honor President George H.W. Bush, I feel a sense of hope for the future of America. Mr. President, thank you for serving our nation with such valor. Thank you for providing the example of living an exemplary life. Thank you for being a total class act and deserving of our utmost respect. Thank you for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Thank you for confronting Saddam Hussein. Thank you for presiding over the official end of the Cold War. Thank you for the Clean Air Act. Thank you for your personal fight against the horrors of Nazi Germany and imperial Japan. Regardless of our politics, we ought to come together to celebrate the life of a man whose principles, class, perseverance and love possess the power to help us heal our world today.

These are extraordinarily difficult days for our Union. Regardless, members of both parties, public servants of all stripes and citizens of all creeds should pay their utmost respect to a man that embodied the tenacity of the American spirit. Thank you, President Bush. My generation and all Americans salute you!

— Henry Wilson, Barrington

Bush and Trump

Regarding your editorial (“Humility and civility: More pols, please, like George H.W. Bush,” Dec. 4) about the late President George H.W. Bush, I agree that he was as nice, polite and humble as they come. But you fail to understand the contribution to the lack of civility and ethics we see today in politics is primarily due to President Donald Trump. When you say “But it’s not just Trump,” well maybe not 100 percent entirely, but it’s mainly Trump. The president sets the example and no other president we’ve had even comes close to the vitriol, lack of respect for others just plain meanness as Trump. Not former presidents Obama, George W. Bush, Clinton— as far back as you can go.

— Charles Gradle, Oak Park

Daley's commuter tax

Bill Daley is running for mayor of Chicago, and now wants to propose a tax on suburban commuters that work in the city. He forgets that suburbanites pay county taxes and state taxes that get eaten up by Chicago. If Chicago ever gets that tax in the books, more people will escape the tax burden by leaving Illinois for good. Then businesses will leave Chicago for lack of workers. Chicago, I love you, but not enough to go broke for your sake.

— Carl F. Rollberg, Calumet Park

Vietnamization of Afghanistan

Steve Chapman is “right on” with his Nov. 29 assessment of the war in Afghanistan (Why are we still in Afghanistan?). As a Vietnam War Marine, it is easy to see the same political machinations going on as in the 1960s. Does every generation have to learn the same lessons, written in blood, by the same numbskulls who should, but do not, know better? Bring them home, now.

— William R. Boyd, Summerville, S.C.

Witch hunt

President Donald Trump keeps claiming that special counsel Robert Mueller's probe is just a witch hunt, and he takes a lot of flak for it. But, let's be honest, our president is absolutely right. Mueller's probe is just that, a witch hunt. The problem for our president is that Mueller and his merry band of witch hunters are very good at what they do. They know exactly how and just where to look, and they will find that broomstick hidden in the president's closet...you know, the one he rode in on, the one marked: "Made In Russia."

— Rich Carlucci, Chicago

A haunting memory

Chester Weger killed three women in Starved Rock State Park in 1960. It seems like it was only a few days later my 26 year-old sister drove my mother and me up from McLeansboro, Ill. to Starved Rock and Chicago. I was 13 at the time.

Since I was the "man" on the trip, I felt responsible for protecting them. I picked up a long stick and carried it the whole time we were there. My anxiety rose every time we came to what I thought might be a hiding spot.

I have been back to the park more than 20 times and a touch of that fear hits me every time.